On board [The Moby Dick], beside Whitebeard:
"Gūrarararara!!! Is it finally going to begin?!"
Marshall D. Teach, now just a "civilian," had a gleam in his eyes as he watched the two formidable fire-based users creating terrifying temperatures in the sky. In his mind, he corrected himself: "Devil Fruit Ability users." He was tremendously impressed.
At the same time, he felt an even greater greed for the "strongest" power that Whitebeard held over them.
However, he suddenly remembered something and turned to speak with a smirk.
"Commander Ace, you better keep it up!"
Compared to the scorching heat wielded by these two, Ace's Mera-Mera No Mi( Flame-Flame Fruit) was currently just "good," not "powerful."
"Shut up, Teach! Do you want a beating?!"
Ace, feeling embarrassed, clenched his fists and chased after Teach in irritation.
Teach laughed heartily as the commotion continued on the deck.
But unlike usual, Marco didn't step in to stop their play-fighting. Instead, he approached Whitebeard with a serious expression.
"Pops, Jack the Drought…"
"Don't worry, Marco. You won't end up like that," Whitebeard said as he calmly poured a drink.
Glug, Gug…
Whitebeard's long and narrow eyes fixated on Rowen, who stood facing off against the massive mammoth elephant. He continued, "Zoan Awakening requires controlling the surging beastly instincts that awaken within. Otherwise, you'll lose your humanity, just like the Jailers in Impel Down. That's the biggest difference between Zoan and the other two types of Ability users."
"However, Zoan users' incredible vitality is not only reflected in the Ability user but also in the Devil Fruit itself. It's more like a living being than just an ability."
"Jack is fortunate. Many Zoan Ability users never reach this stage and can't tap into the true life force of their Zoan Fruit."
"And I… am nearly undying, aren't I?"
Marco, understanding Whitebeard's implication, forced a smile and shook his head as he spoke.
As a user of the Undying Bird Devil Fruit, with mastery over the Undying Blue Flames capable of fully healing injuries, he never had to tap into the true life force of his Zoan Fruit. If such a day ever arrived, he believed he would die from exhaustion before it happened.
It was a premise that could never be fulfilled, much like a perpetual motion machine.
"I wonder if this outcome is for better or worse…"Marco sighed.
At these words, Whitebeard glanced at him, then suddenly put down the jug of alcohol and pulled Marco into a hug.
"Gulalala!"
"Don't worry about that, Marco! Don't forget who I am!"
"I am Whitebeard!"
…
Meigo – Nether Hound!
The fiery lava transformed into a fierce and malevolent hellish hound, viciously lunging at Jin. The surging lava seemed boundless, covering the sky like an ocean, with a thousand miles of crimson haze.
This was the power of an Admiral!
With every move, they could destroy a small-sized island!
Facing the fiercely incoming Meigo-Nether Hound, King didn't dare to be careless. He tightened his grip on his sword with both hands and ruthlessly pulled it upward.
Cremation·Hell's Red Lotus!
Blossoms made entirely of flames, eerie and sacred, suddenly appeared in front of him. The molten wicked hound bit into the lotus, but the standoff lasted less than half a second before it burst with a resounding explosion!
Meigo – Nether Hound was a move that not even Whitebeard could withstand, and King was no exception.
However, Hell's Red Lotus bought him a brief moment of respite. Jin flapped his wings and distanced himself from the battle. Akainu, who was using Geppo to float in the air, glared at him from afar.
"Tch!"
Seeing that his attack hadn't taken down his opponent, Akainu's expression soured. He flew up once more.
Boom!
Magma rained down like a meteor shower, leaving scorched black marks on the ground. However, the two figures facing each other on the ground remained largely unaffected. Akainu's magma hit Jack's back, leaving nothing more than a red mark.
Suddenly, the massive creature before them disappeared. Jack instantly appeared in front of Rowen, his strong and powerful elephant trunk raised high before ruthlessly slamming down.
Boom!!!
An elephant has three main weapons: its ivory, elephant leg, and trunk.
Among these, the trunk, filled with powerful muscular fibers, is wielded with unmatched ferocity. Facing such a formidable attack, Rowen dared not underestimate it. He swiftly Blink-teleported behind Jack's colossal, transformed head. There, he grasped empty air, and a vivid blue electric blade appeared in his hand with a resounding buzz.
Thunderstrike – Ship-Chopping Blade!
Clang!
The enormous, giant-scale blade, over ten meters long, ruthlessly struck Jack's neck. His skin was enveloped in a thick layer of Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki). With a crisp sound, the blade disintegrated into silvery streaks!
Jack relied solely on his defense to nullify the slashing attack of the lightning blade!
"His defense has nearly doubled… no, maybe even tripled?!" Rowen observed, his face twisted into a grimace.
Seeing this, Rowen Blink (Teleported) to create some distance between them. He kicked the air repeatedly, summoning pure white Thunder Pillars that rained down mercilessly on Jack's vulnerable facial areas.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The consecutive explosions rocked the heavens and the earth, even dispersing the clouds in the sky. In his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), Jack covered his face with his trunk and stubbornly endured this barrage.
"So, why are you not dying?" Rowen's face twisted into a vicious expression.
If Jack were to die, Rowan would have a reason to battle King, and Akainu wouldn't interfere in a one-on-one fight. King was probably feeling quite frustrated right now.
He had planned to strike Rowen when Jack attacked, giving Akainu a reason to step in. However, when his sneak attack with Cremation failed to kill Rowen and Akainu intercepted him, the plan deviated from the start.
Even if he managed to break free and survive, Jack wouldn't. As a source of humiliation, Jack would be considered a trophy by the Marines, used to ruthlessly mock the Hundred Beasts Pirates.
At their level, honor always outweighed life!
Moo!
At this moment, it seemed that Jack had lost his rationality and was fighting solely on instinct. He tilted his head back and let out a loud roar. He then charged toward Rowen with his massive elephant leg, moving even faster than when he was in humanoid form!
"200 million Volt – Meteor Guns!"
Rowen executed a reverse grip, and silvery snakes gathered around him. Silver-white spears appeared by his side, and as he raised his head, the Thunder God Seal materialized.
Meteor Shower!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Confronted with a meteor shower that moved at incredible speed, Jack, in his elephant form, had no means of evading. He was hit repeatedly and screamed in pain as he retreated.
Luckily, his defense had greatly increased in this form, so Rowen's attacks, while causing him pain, didn't leave the debilitating wounds they had in his humanoid form. This move, cursed by the Grand Fireball, had once again failed against a formidable opponent!
In the midst of being pummeled, Jack's eyes turned completely crimson. With a mad howl, he charged forward, his body covered in countless lightning spears, and raced toward Rowen.
Swinging his trunk like a colossal pillar reaching the sky, it could have killed even a giant-scale Sea King!
Rowen's eyes narrowed, and he snorted angrily. "You just won't quit!"
Zzzt! Zzzt…
With the ground trembling beneath them, the G-5 Marine Branch was falling apart, and it was likely that after this battle, it would soon disappear into the sea. However, behind the hellish smoke and clouds, a gigantic hand suddenly emerged, holding half of an elephant's trunk.
As he looked at the giant that had suddenly appeared before him, the raging eyes of the mammoth elephant held a rare trace of seriousness.
Overload Esoterics – Violent Ape of Hell!
Blocking the elephant's trunk strike with his face, Rowen reached out and clamped the trunk under his arm. At the same time, he thrust his right hand into the corner of the colossal elephant's mouth.
With a mighty roar, he lifted this massive creature, whose size rivaled skyscrapers, into the air!
Then, he swung it around and brought it crashing down…
…
(End of this chapter)
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